What It's Like Sailing on a Disney European River Cruise

Table Of Content

• Review: AmaWaterways' AmaMagna
• Danube River Cruise: Christmas Markets
• Danube River Cruise
• Emerald Sky: 10 Things We Loved about our River Cruise Ship
• Adventures by Disney River Cruise Itineraries Revealed
• Adults-only Adventures by Disney river cruises
• What to know about taking a family-friendly river cruise
• Who are Adventure by Disney river cruises for?

When compared to land adventures, which feature two Adventure Guides, this is a big upgrade. But it’s worth noting that there are more travelers on river cruises than on land adventures, so the increased number of guides on River Cruises is proportional to the amount of passengers. It’s also worth mentioning that the cost of Adventures by Disney trips includes all meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages onboard the river cruise ship (along with some on shore), making it an excellent value for families. Disney-trained Adventure Guides accompany every trip and bring real-world magic to life. Their masterful storytelling, in-depth knowledge of the places visited plus their attention to every detail ensures guests enjoy a hassle-free vacation and foster lasting connections with every destination.

Adventures by Disney Announces New Holland and Belgium River Cruise with Two Tour Options Beginning in 2025 ... - Jacksonville Free Press

Adventures by Disney Announces New Holland and Belgium River Cruise with Two Tour Options Beginning in 2025 ....

Posted: Thu, 11 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Review: AmaWaterways' AmaMagna

Overall, I had a fabulous experience on the Adventures by Disney Danube river cruise. If you want to explore the heart of European cities, if you like to be active on vacation, if you have adults or older children in your party, and if you enjoy socializing and meeting new people, the river cruise is a fantastic way to travel. Each Holland and Belgium River Cruise itinerary will delight guests with its historic landmarks and through hands-on activities for the entire family. Advisors should note that, unlike many river cruises, Adventures by Disney mostly sails at night, with daytime hours reserved for activities.

Danube River Cruise: Christmas Markets

Days earlier, as we arrived at the rocky sand beaches of Normandy, it became clear that we were in for an extraordinary trip. If you add on days in Paris, whether you do it through ABD or other means, and you're a Disney theme park fan, you'll want to add an additional day to go to the park. For instance, an Adventures by Disney mat welcomes guests onboard instead of an AmaWaterways mat.

Danube River Cruise

I had hoped that she might be able to dine with me at Palo, the adults-only dining venue for guests age 18 and up. However, despite the fact that she was a high school graduate, comporting herself impeccably, there was no flexibility in the rules. Because she was not officially 18, she was not allowed to dine at Palo, or use the fitness center, or use the adults-only pool. I understand that due to the high volume of guests, DCL must be rigid in their enforcement of all types of regulations, but sometimes this results in disappointment or a less than personal feel. Many of the excursions include free alcohol in the form or wine, beer, or schnapps tastings.

Emerald Sky: 10 Things We Loved about our River Cruise Ship

Your budgeting should also account for a pre-embarkation or post-disembarkation hotel accommodation, if it’s not included with the cruise fare, depending on your flight options. The Rhine is known for its ample castles, which might delight some in your brood. No matter where in Europe you sail, there are often opportunities for biking on shore for more active families. Additionally, some family cruises will do a deep dive into the Sound of Music during a day trip to Salzburg, Austria (where many scenes of the movie were shot) during Danube cruises, for fans of the iconic musical. Christmas market cruises are another option for families who are feeling festive. Our cruise had a variety of multigenerational and blended, step families, as well as passengers with various mobility needs.

The only time during my river cruise that I felt even the vaguest notion of motion sickness was on the bus ride to an excursion. Adventures by Disney will take care of all the logistics, from your transportation and meals to local activities and entertainment, so you can just sit back and enjoy the experience floating along a historic river. With so much to see and do, this Adventure by Disney river cruise will surely be an unforgettable experience for your entire family. The best way to start planning your trip is to work with a travel agency specializing in Adventures by Disney trips, and The Vacationeer is precisely the agency you want to work with. This was day six of our 10-day river cruise through France, and I had started to look forward to the puns. I looked over at my mom and noticed she was smiling too — maybe reluctantly, but smiling nonetheless.

The AmaWaterways ships don't magically change to the vibrant colors of Disney Cruise Line ships overnight (red, white, and black with a touch of blue and yellow) or grow an iconic stack overnight. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Erin Foster is an original member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel (now PlanDisney), a regular contributor to TouringPlans.com, and co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line.

You'll enjoy the iconic Wachau Valley, with it's stunning vineyards set amidst hillside towns. You'll have the opportunity to explore castles and charming cities along the “Blue Danube” with this itinerary. This river cruise begins in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and ends in Basel, Switzerland, and is aboard AmaLucia or AmaSiena. Visit the Black Forest and a woodworking museum, enjoy learning about the medieval timber homes in the Alsace region of France (which is where the set design for the village in Beauty and the Beast came from), and tour Heidelberg Castle. You can also contact a travel agent, which is what we do for all our Disney Vacations.

There is also plenty of time to explore ashore, with guided activities and excursions included in the cruise price. Make sure to check the river cruise line’s age requirement; most have a minimum age of between two and four. Adventures by Disney is great with younger children, often giving them even more attention and creative options than some of the older, more independent kids. At the beginning of the cruise, the adventure guides host a no-parents-invited meet and greet. It’s a good way for all the kids to meet each other and find friendships that are cemented through special “just the kids” events throughout the week.

One example of both the Adventures by Disney River Cruises and Adventures by Disney Expedition Cruises is the Junior Adventurers night. Guests can run on deck on DCL, but you are not allowed to run on the river ships because the “walking track” is directly above guest rooms. However, given the proximity to populated areas and the long time in port, it’s exceptionally easy to go for a run on land. Many guests on my sailings went for on-shore jogs in port before breakfast. There are also yoga mats you can bring to the sundeck for stretching or non-impact calisthenics. For example, I sailed on the Disney Wonder with my oldest daughter a week before her 18th birthday.

Many families find that they barely see their children during a DCL cruise because their kids spend so much time in the dedicated child spaces. This quick switch from one type of cruising to another gave me a terrific window into the differences between the two modes of travel. Adventures by Disney has teamed up with AmaWaterways to offer river cruises in some of Europe’s most stunning locations.

When it was finally time to leave, it hit me that I would miss the joyous spirit that I had come to rely on throughout the trip. And on our last night, following a decadent crème brûlée (I mean, "when in France"), we floated by the Eiffel Tower. The iconic structure was lit up and sparkling, almost as if it too was celebrating our time on board the Adventures by Disney Seine River Cruise. You cannot hire an Adventure Guide to babysit your child outside of these designated times, however.

What It's Like Sailing on a Disney European River Cruise - AFAR Media

What It's Like Sailing on a Disney European River Cruise.

Posted: Thu, 27 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

They also have special Christmas Markets river cruises on the Danube River. Oktoberfest sailings are available for two cruises in 2022, for an adults-only itinerary. They're both in September, which is when the famed German Oktoberfest takes place.

The Adventures by Disney product is about bringing Disney service and quality to world exploration, not about having Mickey moments around the clock. There have been times I’ve booked DCL cruises without a particular destination in mind. I wanted someplace, anyplace, warm on the right dates at the right price.

It's also not an accident that many of the itinerary dates coincide with school breaks, like spring break, summer break, or winter break over December's holidays. Your TouringPlans.com subscription helps us to help you by funding new articles and research. Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Orlando News, Tips, Crowds and Attraction Information from The Unofficial Guide travel books. If you want complete relaxation, if you have small kids, if you want an island destination, or if you’re in introvert mode, then Disney Cruise Line might be a better choice for you. One small but helpful feature on the AmaViola was the inclusion of a nighttime lighting system.

However, you can purchase air transportation to/from your home airport through Adventures by Disney (only for flights to and from the U.S). Adventures by Disney offers a variety of itineraries to choose from, and their Rhine River Cruise is one of the most popular. The week-long Adventures by Disney Rhine River cruise takes you to France, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. So if you’re ready to let your inner beer-lover loose, this is the perfect Adventure by Disney trip for you. Holland’s lowlands and climate give this region the ideal conditions for tulips.